Cushion for clutch plates



12, 1950 H. c. GOODCHILD 2,533,789

CUSHION FOR CLUTCH PLATES Filed Aug. 19, 1948 4 A'tdarnay Patented Dec. 12, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CUSHION FOR CLUTCH PLATES Henry C. Goodchlld, Los Angeles, Calif.

Application August 19, 1948, Serial No. 45,193 4 Claims. (01. 64--27) This invention has to do with a cushion for clutch plates and it is a general object of the invention to provide an improved, simplified, cushion construction for clutches of the type used in connection with internal combustion engines and the like.

Clutches are used in various situations where power is transmitted, it being common to use them in connection with internal combustion enines as for instance in motor vehicles, where they form a power connection between the engine and the driving Wheels. It is desirable, in clutches of the character referred to, that there be cushioning elements to soften the clutch action. Various clutch constructions have been proposed employing cushioning springs and rubber elements are disclosed and claimed in my pending application entitled Plate Type Clutch," Serial No. 785,975, filed November 14, 1947.

The invention which is subject of this application is concerned with cushion elements for incorporation in clutch constructions and it is a general object of the invention to provide an improved cushion of the general form and type set forth in my said copending application.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a clutch cushion of simple, inexpensive construction and which is such that it may be readily snapped or pressed into place and will maintain itself in operating position when once arranged in place.

Another object of the present invention is to providea clutch cushion element of the general character referred to including a cushion body of rubber, or the like, which holds bearing plates at its ends so that working of the clutch does not result in cutting or deterioration of the rubber.

A further object of the present invention is to provide 'a cushion element for clutches which is simple in form and application, making it inexpensive and practical to use.

The various objects and features of my invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and" applications of my invention, throughout which'description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a clutch located between an engine and a propeller shaft, which clutch involves cushion elements provided by the present invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, being a view taken in the general direction indicated in line 2-4 of Fig. 1, certain of the parts being shown broken away to show in section. Fig. 3

is an enlarged detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 3-3 on Fig. 1, being a view taken through one of the cushion elements embodying the present invention. Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailed sectional View taken as indicated by line 4-4 on Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a detailed sectional view taken as indicated by line 55 on Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a cushion body provided by the present invention. Fig. 7 is a view similar to a portion of Fig. 3, showing a modified form or construction. Fig. 8 is a view taken as indicated by line 88 on Fig. 7. Fig. 9 is aview similar to Fig. '7 showing another form of construction, and Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken as indicated by line ill-l0 on Fig. 9.

The clutch illustrated in the drawings and embodying the cushion elements provided by the present invention is of the type commonly employed in motor vehicles and includes, generally, a drive element A, a friction element B, a pressure element C and operating means D for the pressure element.

The drive element A is shown as the flywheel Ill of an engine and is fixed on the engine shaft II. The friction element B is shown as carried by or as having driving engagement with a pro peller shaft l2 which has a forward end extension i3 supported in the end of the engine shaft ii.

The pressure element is shown as a flat platelike structure carried by the flywheel ill through a suitable cage l5 and cooperating with the flywheel ll] through the friction element B.

The structure shown being of conventional form, the flywheel ID has a fiat finished face IE to be engaged by the friction element B and the pressure element C has a fiat finished face ll opposing the face IS. The friction element has a flat plate-like portion arranged between the faces l6 and I1. The actuating means D operates the pressure element C toward and away from the flywheel to grip or release the friction element as desired. The means D is shown as including a plurality of springs l8 supported by the cage l5 and normally yieldingly urging the pressure element toward the flywheel so that the friction element is normally gripped between the pressure element and flywheel. The means D further includes one or more elements or release mechanism is operable to shift the pressure element away from the flywheel against the resistance of the springs IS.

Th friction element B of the clutch includes features of construction or cushion elements embodying the present invention. The particular asaspae element ,3 shown in the drawings involves, generally, a hub 20. a radial flange 2| projecting from the hub, a shoe plate 22 having an inner portion 22 at one side of the flange 2|, friction shoes 24 carried by the plate 22, a supplemental plate 25 located at the opposite side of flange 2| and means 26 coupling the plate 25 with the plate portion 22.

A plurality of present invention is combined with the elements just described so that a cushioned driving action is obtained between the shoes 24 and the hub 26. The shoes 24 are friction elements mounted at opposite sides of the plate 22 where it occurs between the faces l6 and I1, and in accordance with the present invention the shoes may be of any desired form or construction by which a secure or positive driving engagement may be established frictionally between the engine shaft H and the propeller shaft I2. In th drawings the friction shoes 24 are shown mounted on or applied to the plate 22 in one manner, whereas it will be apparent that they may be applied to the plate in any desired manner, as for instance,

in the manner shown in the aforementioned copending application or in any other suitable manner.

The inner portion 22 of the shoe plate 22 occurs opposite the side 22 of flange 2| and in the particular case illustrated the shoe carrying portion of plate 2| is integrally joined with and pro- Jects outward beyond the portion 22 of the plate. The supplemental plate 25 is opposite the side 2| of the flange 2| and is of limited size or diameter, being substantially coextensive with the flange 2| as clearly shown throughout the drawings. The means 26 connecting th supplemental plate 25 and the plate portion 22 includes a plurality of circumferentially spaced fasteners 22 that extend between or join the plate portion 22 and the plate 25. It is preferred that spacers 24 be located between the plate portion 22 and the plate 25 where the fasteners 22 occur and that the spacers 24 be located to extend through openings 25 in the flange 2|. Ihe spacers 24 fit the openings 25 with substantial clearance allowing for limited relative movement between the plate 22 and the flange 2| which is on the hub 20. The fasteners 22 are preferably rivets or the like which serve to join the plate 25 and the plate portion 22 rigidly together and the spacers 24 are preferably such as to hold the plate portion 22a substantial distance away from the side of flange 2| so that there is a space 40 between the plate portion 22 and the flange while the plate is held away from the side 2| of the flange 2|, leaving a space 4|.

The cushioning means provided invention provides a plurality of like cushioning units 21 which are circumferentially spaced around the structure just described. Each cushioning unit involves, generally, a cushion body 45 and bearing plates 45 at the ends of the body. Openings 41, 48 and 48 are provided in the plate portion 22, the flange 2|, and the plate 25, re-

spectively, to accommodate the cushion unit.

The body 45 of the cushion unit is preferably formed of rubber or rubber-like material and in its preferred form it is an elongate body of rubber which may be substantially rectangular in cross sectional configuration as shown in Figs. 1 to 6, of the drawings. In practice I employ a rubberlike composition which is not afiected by oil, or the like, such material being commonly referred to as-neoprene." The openings 41, 48 and 49 in cushion units 21 embodying the by the present the cushion body with the 4 the clutch parts that accommodate the cushion are elongate openings corresponding, generally,

in size and shape with the cushion unit 21 and.

they are so disposed as to extend tangentially of circles concentric with the axis of the structure. It is preferred, in practice, that the openings 41, 48 and 49 be so proportioned as to snugly receive 7 pressure plates in place at its'ends;

In accordance with the present invention one or more retainer ribs are provided on the cushion body 45, the ribs being so arranged and related as to cooperate with the clutch parts in order that the cushion body be maintained in operating position when once applied to the clutch parts. In the particular form of the invention illustrated there are two ribs 50 projecting from the outermost side 5| of the cushion body and two ribs 50 projecting from the inner side 52 of the cushion body. The ribs 50 extend lengthwise of the cushion body 45 and are spaced apart to enter or project into the spaces 40 and 4| that occur at opposite sides of the flange 2|.

In practice the ribs 50 may be of any desired extent lengthwise of the body although it is preferred, ordinarily, that they be extended from one end to the other of the body and it will be apparent that they can be made of any desired height or to project in any desired manner. In practice the rubber employed in the cushion body 45 is rather firm and therefore retainer ribs 56 of limited size serve to effectively maintain the cushion unit in operating position.

In accordance with the broader principles of the present invention, the pressure plates 46 that occur at the ends of thecushion body 45 may be maintained in position in any suitable manner. In the drawings the pressure plates are shown mounted on or secured to the ends of the cushion body 45 so that they combine with the cushion body to form a unit that can be conveniently handled relative to the other parts of the clutch. In the particular case illustrated each pressure plate 46 is a round flat disc-like part with a central opening 60 and projections 6| are provided on the ends of the cushion body 45 to enter the openings 60 in such manner as to center the plates relative to the body 45 and to hold the plates on the body in the desired manner.

With the construction just described the cushion units 21 are exceedingly simple in form and construction, making them inexpensive and they are very easily handled and applied to the clutch construction. It will .be apparent that the cushion units may be arranged in operating position by being forced or thrust into place from either side of the clutch construction and when once in place with the ribs in the openings at In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs.

'I and 8 of the drawings the cushion body 45* is substantially round in cross section instead of be- .ing rectangular, as above described, and the retention of the cushion body is gained by retaining ribs or flanges 50' on the plate parts 23 and 25. The ribs 50 project outwardly to embrace or overlie the cushion body 45 and they are of such extent as to effectively maintain the body 45 in proper working position. In this case as in the one first described pressure plates 46 may be provided at the ends of the cushion body 45.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 9 and 10 the cushion body 45' is substantially round in cross sectional configuration like that shown in Fig. 7 and retaining ribs 50 are provided on the body 45' similar to those shown in Figs. 3 and 6, while retaining ribs 50 are provided on the plate parts 23 and 25 in the manner similar to that shown in Fig. 7.

, Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of my invention, I do not wish to be limited. or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to myself any variations or modifications that may appear to those skiled in the art and fall within the scope of the following claims.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. A clutch cushion engageable between relatively movable clutch parts to operate under compression including, a solid elongate body of rubber-like cushioning material having a plurality of retaining projections extending continuously the length of the body and engageable between the clutch parts. and metal pressure plates engaging the ends of the body and engageable with the clutch parts.

2. A clutch cushion engageable between relatively movable clutch parts to operate under compression including. a solid elongate body of rubber-like cushioning material having a plurality of retaining projections at opposite sides of the body and extending continuously the length of the body and engageable between the clutch parts, metal pressure plates engaging the ends or the body and engageable with the clutch parts, and means retaining the plates on the ends of the body.

3. A clutch cushion engageable between relatively movable clutch parts to operate under compression including, a solid elongate body of rubber-like cushioning material having a. plurality of retaining projection extending continuously the length of the body and engageable between the clutch parts, apertured metal pressure plates engaging the ends of the body and engageable with the clutch parts, and projectinns on the body engaged in the apertures of the plates and holding the plates on the ends of the body.

4. A clutch cushion engageable between relatively movable clutch parts to operate under compression including, a solid elongate body of rubber-like cushioning material having a plurality of parallel retaining projections on each of two opposite sides of the body, the projections extending continuously the length of the body and engageable between the clutch parts, metal pressure plates engaging the ends of the body and engageable with the clutch parts, and projections on the ends of the body engaging the plates and retaining them on the ends of the body.

HENRY C. GOODCHILD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,598,795 Willene Sept. 7, 1926 1,663,803 Link Mar. 27, 1928 1,760,492 Hall May 27, 1930 1,952,892 Reed Mar. 27, 1934 2,070,329 Brecht Feb. 9, 1937 2,186,305 Orr Jan. 9, 1940 2,222,337 Gordon Nov, 19, 1940 2,231,769 Merrill Feb. 11, 1941 2,234,443 Macbeth Mar. 11, 1941 2,397,642 Blazek et al. Apr. 2, 1946 2,437,537 Kelleher Mar. 9, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 726,386 France May 27, 1932 

